BJS FY 2026 Consolidated National Criminal History Improvement Program

The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) is issuing a FY 2026 Consolidated National Criminal History Improvement Program grant package totaling $123 million, split among three sub‑programs: (1) NCHIP – $59 M to improve the quality, completeness, and accessibility of criminal‑history records nationwide; (2) NCHIP SF BSCA – $40 M to enhance background‑check systems under the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act; and (3) NARIP – $24 M to help states, courts, and tribal governments update the FBI’s NICS with mental‑health, restraining‑order, domestic‑violence, and other disqualifying data. The solicitation targets state central court‑administration offices, state governments, and federally recognized tribal governments, with an expected 56 awards and a maximum award ceiling of $2,196,000 per recipient. Applications are accepted from 08/18/2026 to 09/28/2026 via a cooperative‑agreement mechanism. • Funding mechanism: Cooperative Agreement (CFDA 16.554, 16.813) • Eligible entities: State courts/administrative offices, state governments, tribal governments • Total estimated funding: $123 M; average award ≈ $2.2 M (max $2.196 M) • Number of awards: 56 • Primary contact: Stephanie Burroughs ([email protected]) • No pre‑bid meeting or site‑visit required • Purpose: Strengthen national criminal‑history databases and improve background‑check accuracy for public safety.